Shot a round of sporting with my M21 Trap today. It’s been awhile since I shot it and I’d forgotten how well it moves to a target. And the triggers! One of my buddies, who shoots a K80, said he’d never shot one before and asked to try a few pair with it. He was shocked how good the triggers are. Said they were at least as good as his Kreighoff triggers. He was very impressed. It’s amazing how a gun built 83 years ago, by hand, is comparable to top of the line modern shotguns. Guess that’s why we love them!

I have three of them. My choice for the best American double. Nothing even comes close to its solid strength. The only negative in my opinion is that it’s styling (looks) are very average

In all my years of shooting I've never shot a SXS. I would like a M 21 taking my SXS virginity.

Cool thread!

The 21 is certainly one of my favorites. I have been blessed to have the privilege of being the curator of one of the "Three Sisters" built for Jenkins Guns Inc. I have yet to shoot it. Maybe this week...

Over the last 25-30 years I bought, shot and subsequently sold eight of these great side by sides. Five twelves and three twenties. I won't bore you with details about them now, although when I have time I will post some pictures of a few. The absolute rarest one I ever put my hands on was about 15 years ago here in Tucson. It was a vent rib straight stocked 28 inch skeet mid -50's gun with the original build sheet.... in .410!
It was part of a two gun deal that I was offered. The other was a twenty which I eventually did buy. The guns belonged to the son of the of the fellow who bought them from the original owner sometime in the mid-70's. The seller brought the twenty over to my house, and we haggled a bit on price. Then he went out to his car and brought in the .410 which he hadn't mentioned up to that point. Both guns were original, unmolested, with build sheets and documented provenance. His price for both was $40K. He later sold the .410 to a dealer/collector in Colorado for $35K, or so he told me. I have pictures of the .410 that he took, which aren't all that good, but I'll try to post some when time allows.

If you click on the pictures, they should enlarge....

Kept three 20s. Sorta want a 12 ga trap gun for SC, they point exceptionally well.

I hadn't owned one for 34 years and then in March 2016 a 1953 vintage 12-gauge Skeet Gun, configured just the way I'd always thought was right for me, came my way. Then two years later a 1941 vintage 16-gauge Skeet Gun joined the fold. First three rounds I shot with the 16-gauge were straights. It had taken me quite a while to shoot a straight with the 12-gauge!!

Certainly can't say I like them a bit better than any of my other doubles.

I love my mint model 21 skeet-20 gauge with 28" barrels and a beautiful piece of wood with a checkered butt. I got a factory letter and it letters to a tee. The gun was made in 1948. I would love to own a 20 gauge Grand American one day.

I only have one. A pre-war, around 1937, 12 ga, Full/Mod.

Rod

This was one I found in Texas in 1998. The wood was what sold me on it.

Very nice wood! I really like American walnut.

Beautiful engraving by John Kusmit.

I owned it for at least 10 years and never fired it because it was just too pretty to shoot. I finally relented and put a round through each barrel before I shipped it to the new owner, just to be sure about it. Of course, in hindsight, I wish I still had it, along with several others.

I have one engraved by John Kusmit. I have shot it because that is what it was made to do

True enough...as I said, I wish I still had it. Even a bad round would still feel good with a gun as beautiful as that.

Exactly!

'Nuff said.

Show off! Beautiful spread!

Only one has the flat side receiver. That had to be filed flat at the factory: a lot of work, but it was considered necessary for the best engraving